How long has it been since Smithsburg’s football team has opened the season at 3-0?
Well, for one, the current seniors on the squad were just being born.
The year was 2008, and the Leopards were just getting started on a brilliant season that saw them go 10-1 and outscore the competition by more than 200 points. It’s a high Smithsburg’s football program has been chasing ever since.
Enter the 2026 Leopards, who are 2-0 with a pair of tightly contested victories. And if Smithsburg can handle its business Friday when it ventures to West Virginia to take on Berkeley Springs, it will be 3-0 for the first time since George W. Bush was in office.
We’ve selected this matchup as our Game of the Week.
Smithsburg’s fast start can be attributed to a hard-hitting defense that forces opponents to play behind the chains. Quarterback Luke Scott calls the shots for a balanced offense that can do damage in many ways.
With this group, the Leopards not only feel they can compete with the Indians, they believe they can win.
Don’t expect Berkeley Springs to roll over. The Indians may have only one victory, but they feature a high-flying passing game that can strike for a TD at any moment.
Get your popcorn ready.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming contests we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Smithsburg at Berkeley Springs
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m., at Berkeley Springs
Records: Smithsburg enters at 2-0, while Berkeley Springs checks in at 1-2.
Last game: The Leopards posted a 21-14 win over Williamsport, while the Indians are coming off a 32-13 loss to Petersburg.
Last meeting: Smithsburg topped Berkeley Springs, 28-14, in last season’s matchup.
Meet the Leopards: Coach Dave Lawrence’s team made a bit of noise last week, when they earned a win over Williamsport to get their first 2-0 start since 2012 … Now, the Leopards will attempt to go 3-0, a feat that hasn’t been seen at Smithsburg since 2008 … It’s been a scrappy start for the Leopards, who own one-score victories over Francis Scott Key (24-21) and Williamsport (21-14) … Smithsburg’s defense, which allows 17.5 points per game and logged 20 tackles for loss, is fueled by strong play from the linebacking corps … Outside linebacker Nicolas Roncone has been a monster for the Leopards with 21 tackles, including eight tackles for a loss and two sacks … Fellow outside linebackers Noah Hegbe (24 tackles, 2 tackles for loss) and Luke Scott (19 tackles, 2 tackles for loss) have been solid, as has inside linebacker Riley Carr (16 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, sack) … On the other side of the ball, QB Scott commands an offense that is churning out 22.5 points per game … Scott has completed 17 of 32 passes for 234 yards and a TD … His top receivers have been Dakota Sowers (3 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD), Roncone (5-85), and Marquis Weakfall (6-40) … Primary ballcarriers for the Leopards are Hegbe (15-103-1), Roncone (11-83-1), and Zach Linn (10-26-1) … Kicker Walker Clark has converted 1 of 2 extra points, as well as a 32-yard field goal.
Meet the Indians: Don’t be deceived by the losing record. Berkeley Springs brings plenty of pop to the football field … The Indians, guided by first-year head coach CJ Watts, are scoring 22 points per game … Berkeley Springs owns a win over Clear Spring (41-12), but has fallen to both Keyser (55-12) and Petersburg (32-13), two teams that combine for a 3-2 record … The Indians heavily rely on their passing game, with senior QB Jalen Miller being the trigger man. Miller has completed 54 of 90 passes for 942 yards, nine TDs and six interceptions … Miller’s favorite targets have been Kyle Moore and Jacob Aulabaugh. Moore, checking in at 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds, has hauled in 15 catches for 355 yards and two TDs, while Aulabaugh has caught 20 balls for 303 yards and three TDs … Miller has thrown TD passes to three other receivers: Conner Maconaughey (6 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD), Roman Omps (2-47-1), and Mason Nichols (2-42-2) … Running the ball hasn’t been as easy, as Berkeley Springs averages 46.3 rushing yards per game … Chase Stotler (5-37-1), Brayden Boyer (17-52), and Miller (11-50) have had the most success in the ground game … Kicker Kowen Proctor has converted 6 of 9 extra points … The Indians are hunting for their first winning season since 2021, when they went 6-4.
Sandrik’s pick: Leopards by 8.
